Method of using a retention clip to close hardware

ABSTRACT

A method of using a retention clip to secure hardware is provided. The retention clip may include a support surface having an aperture extending through the support surface. The retention clip may further include two anti-rotation surfaces extending from the support surface in a non-parallel direction, and at least one angled tab extending from the support surface in a non-parallel direction towards the aperture of the retention clip. The at least one angled tab may be elastic below a preset load placed on the at least one angled tab, and the at least one angled tab may deform and lose its elasticity above the preset load.

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/325,770, filed on Dec. 1, 2008, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Devices such as clamps are often used during the transport and/orinstallation of hardware, such as fasteners, washers, spacers, tubes,and/or other types of hardware, during the manufacture of structuressuch as aircrafts, vehicles, and other types of structures. During thetransport and installation of the hardware, it is important that thedevices remain closed and snug to retain the hardware as originallyorganized. For instance, in the construction of aircraft, it isimportant that the tubing assemblies maintain their shape duringtransport and installation. As a result, the devices and/or fastenersholding the assemblies must be held in place during transport andinstallation. One prior art apparatus for holding devices in place isthe use of plastic ties to tie down the devices during transport andinstall. However, these plastic ties may be time consuming to install,may not hold the fasteners of the device in place, and may need to beremoved prior to final tightening. Another prior art apparatus forholding devices in place are radially installed clips having openapertures. However, these clips may not self-align to the fasteners ofthe device, may rotate relative to the device, and after being attachedto the fasteners may not be easily removed thereby interfering with theinstallation process, and/or interfering with the subsequent removal ofthe fasteners and/or equipment. Additionally, these clips may fall offor be lost, become debris, and/or cause collateral damage.

An apparatus and/or method is needed to decrease one or more problemsassociated with one or more of the existing apparatus and/or methods forfacilitating closure, maintaining closure, and captivating hardware of ahardware device.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one aspect of the disclosure, a retention clip may include a supportsurface having an aperture extending through the support surface. Thesupport surface may surround an entire perimeter of the aperture. Theclip may further include at least one anti-rotation surface extendingfrom the support surface in a non-parallel direction, and a plurality ofangled tabs extending from the support surface in non-paralleldirections towards the aperture. At least a portion of each angled tabmay be disposed directly below the aperture. The tabs may be elasticbelow a preset load placed on the tabs, and the tabs may deform and losetheir elasticity above the preset load.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a method of closing a device isdisclosed. The retention clip may include a support surface having anaperture extending through the support surface. The retention clip mayfurther include two anti-rotation surfaces extending from the supportsurface in a non-parallel direction, and at least one angled tabextending from the support surface in a non-parallel direction towardsthe aperture of the retention clip. The at least one angled tab may beelastic below a preset load placed on the at least one angled tab, andthe at least one angled tab may deform and lose its elasticity above thepreset load.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the disclosure willbecome better understood with reference to the following drawings,description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of one embodiment of a retention clip under thedisclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the retention clip of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of one embodiment of hardware to which the clipof FIGS. 1 and 2 may be applied;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of one embodiment under the disclosure of a methodof closing a device using a clip;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the fastener of FIG. 3 being insertedthrough the apertures of a device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the fastener of FIG. 5 being insertedthrough an aperture of the clip;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the device of FIG. 6 being closed bymovement of the fastener;

FIG. 7 A shows a cross-section view through line 7-7 of the clip of FIG.7 with tabs of the clip in one elastic position over threads of thefastener;

FIG. 7B shows a cross-section view of the tabs of the clip of FIG. 7Aelastically snapping over the threads of the fastener into anotherposition;

FIG. 8 shows a side view of various types of hardware (such as a blockclamp) being located between a support surface of a clip and a head ofthe fastener;

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the closed, secured device of FIG. 7 beingtransported to an installation location;

FIG. 10 shows a side view of an end of the fastener of FIG. 9 beinglocated in alignment with a nut at the installation location;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the fastener of FIG. 10 beingscrewed into the nut at the installation location;

FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of the clip 10 of FIG. 11 with the fastenerremoved from the clip aperture to show what the deformed tabs may looklike after the fastener is screwed into the nut; and

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the fastener of FIG. 11 beingunscrewed from the nut at the installation location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the disclosure. The description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustratingthe general principles of the disclosure, since the scope of thedisclosure is best defined by the appended claims.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show top and side views of one embodiment of a retentionclip 10 under the disclosure. The retention clip 10 may be made of metaland/or other type of material which may be compatible with theenvironment. The retention clip 10 may comprise a support surface 12having an aperture 14 extending through the support surface 12. Theaperture 14 may be substantially rectangular. The support surface 12 maysurround an entire perimeter 16 of the aperture 14 to form a closedaperture. In other embodiments, the aperture 14 may be of varyingshapes, sizes, orientations, directions, and/or configurations. Theretention clip 10 may further comprise two anti-rotation surfaces 18extending from one side 19 of the support surface 12 in non-paralleldirections 20. The anti-rotation surfaces 18 may be substantiallyperpendicular to the support surface 12. In other embodiments, there maybe one or more anti-rotation surfaces 18 of varying orientations,configurations, directions, sizes, and/or shapes.

The retention clip 10 may additionally comprise a plurality of angledtabs 22 extending from an opposed side 23 of the support surface 12 innon-parallel directions 24 towards a center 26 of the aperture 14. Atleast a portion 28 of each angled tab 22 may be disposed directly belowthe aperture 14. The tabs 22 may be elastic below a preset load 30placed on the tabs 22, and the tabs 22 may deform and lose theirelasticity above the preset load 30. The tabs 22 may be designed toaccommodate a certain preset load 30 placed on the tabs 22 (such as fromthe threads of a fastener passing over the tabs), and to fail/deformabove the preset load 30. In other embodiments, the retention clip 10may comprise any number of tabs 22 in varying shapes, sizes,orientations, directions, and/or configurations. For instance, in oneembodiment, the tabs 22 may extend from side 19 of the support surface12.

FIG. 3 is a side view of one embodiment of hardware 132 to which theclip 10 may be applied. The hardware 132 may comprise a device 134 whichmay comprise a plurality of apertures 136 extending through open,opposing end portions 138 of the device 134. The device 134 may comprisea clamp, a P-clamp, a block clamp, a U-clamp, an aircraft clamp, and/oranother type of device for securing aircraft or non- aircraft parts. Thedevice 134 may extend over a tube 137. The tube 137 may comprise anelectrical tube, a hydraulic tube, a pneumatic tube, an aircraft tube, anon-aircraft tube, and/or another type of tube. In still otherembodiments, the device 134 may extend over a non-tube aircraft part,and/or non-aircraft part. A threaded fastener 139 having a threaded end140 with threads 141 and a head end 142 may be disposed in alignmentover the apertures 136 of the device 134. The fastener 139 may be anaircraft part and/or a non-aircraft part. The end portions 138 of thedevice 134 may be disposed over side 19 of the support surface 12 of theclip 10 in between the anti-rotation surfaces 18. The opposed side 23 ofthe support surface 12 of the clip 10 may be disposed against anassembly tool base 144 having an aperture 146 extending through the toolbase 144.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of one embodiment under the disclosure of a method248 of closing a device 134 using a clip 10. In step 250, an open device134 may be provided having a plurality of apertures 136 on opposing openportions 138 of the device 134. FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of step 250with an open device 134 being provided having a plurality of apertures136 on opposing open portions 138 of the device 134. The provided device134 may comprise any of the embodiments disclosed within thisdisclosure. In step 252, a retention clip 10 may be provided. FIG. 3also shows one embodiment of step 252 with a retention clip 10 beingprovided. The provided clip 10 may comprise any of the embodimentsdisclosed within this disclosure.

In step 254, the fastener 139 may be inserted through the apertures 136of the device 134. FIG. 5 shows a side view of one embodiment of step254 being implemented to insert the fastener 139 of FIG. 3 through theapertures 136 of the device 134 of FIG. 3.

In step 256, the fastener 139 may be inserted through the aperture 14 ofthe retention clip 10. FIG. 6 shows a side view of one embodiment ofstep 256 being implemented to insert the fastener 139 of FIG. 5 throughthe aperture 14 of the retention clip 10. The fastener 139 may also beextended through the aperture 146 of the tool base 144, so that thefastener 139 extends through the apertures 136 of the device 134, theaperture 14 of the clip 10, and the aperture 146 of the tool base 144.In other embodiments, a tool base 144 may not be used.

In step 258, the opposed, open portions 138 of the device 134 may beclosed against one another by moving the fastener 139 along the deviceapertures 136 and along the retention clip aperture 14 during which thethreads 141 of the fastener 139 may move axially against the tabs 22.FIG. 7 shows a side view of one embodiment of step 258 being implementedto close the opposed, open portions 138 of the device 134 of FIG. 6 bymoving the fastener 139 axially 148 along the device apertures 136 andalong the retention clip aperture 14. During this axial movement 148 ofthe fastener 139, the tabs 22 of the clip 10 may elastically snapsubstantially radially back and forth 150 while the tabs 22 are belowthe preset load 30. The tabs 22 may move from the position 152 of FIG.7A, showing the cross-section view through line 7-7 of FIG. 7, betweenand over the axially moving threads 141, without the tabs 22 deforming,to the position 154 shown in the cross-section view of FIG. 7B.

In step 260, when the fastener 139 is stopped from moving along thedevice apertures 136 and along the retention clip aperture 14, theelastic tabs 22 of the clip 10 may be secured fixedly against thethreads 141 of the fastener 139 with the elastic tabs 22 below thepreset load 30 in order to keep the opposed, portions 138 of the device134 closed. FIG. 7 also shows the elastic tabs 22 of the clip 10 beingfixedly secured against the threads 141 of the fastener 139 of FIG. 6.In this position, the head 142 of the fastener 139 may be disposedagainst one of the opposing, end portions 138 of the device 134 and theother of the opposing, end portions 138 of the device 134 may bedisposed against side 19 of support surface 12 of the clip 10. In suchmanner, the support surface 12 may support the device 134.

The opposing end portions 138 of the device 134 may both be disposedbetween the anti-rotation surfaces 18 of the clip 10 thereby preventingthe clip 10 from rotating relative to the device 134 and/or other typesof hardware 132 supported on and/or by the support surface 12. In thisposition, the device 134 may be closed against the tube 137 to preventmovement of the tube 137 relative to the device 134. In otherembodiments, the device 134 may be closed against varying types ofnon-tube apparatus. In still another embodiment, as shown in the sideview of FIG. 8, a block-device 134, a washer 361, and spacers 363 may belocated between the side 19 of support surface 12 and the head 142 ofthe fastener 139. In other embodiments the support surface 12 maysupport various types of hardware 132 which may include various types ofdevices such as a clamp, a U-clamp, a P-clamp, an aircraft clamp, aspacer 363, a washer 361, a tube 137, an aircraft part, and/or othertypes of hardware. In still other embodiments, varying types ofapparatus may be disposed between the support surface 12 and the head142 of the fastener 139.

In step 262, the closed device 134 holding the tube, aircraft part,and/or non-aircraft part may be transported to an installation locationwith the elastic tabs 22 of the clip 10 fixedly secured against thethreads 141 of the fastener 139 with the tabs 22 below the preset load30 in order to keep the portions 138 of the device 134 closed duringtransport. FIG. 9 shows a side view of one embodiment of step 262 beingimplemented to transport the closed device 134 of FIG. 7 to aninstallation location 465 of an aircraft and/or non-aircraft part 465A.

In step 264, an end 140 of the fastener 139 may be located in alignmentwith a nut at the installation location 465. FIG. 10 shows a side viewof one embodiment of step 264 being implemented to locate the end 140 ofthe fastener 139 of FIG. 9 in alignment with a nut 567 at theinstallation location 465 of the aircraft and/or non-aircraft part 465A.

In step 266, at the installation location 465 of the aircraft and/ornon-aircraft part 465A, the fastener 139 holding the tube, aircraftpart, and/or non-aircraft part may be screwed into the nut 567 withenough torque to cause the preset load 30 on the tabs 22 to be exceeded.This may cause the tabs 22 to deform, to lose their elasticity, and tono longer secure the clip 10 in place relative to the fastener 139 dueto their deformation. FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of one embodimentof step 266 being implemented to screw the fastener 139 of FIG. 10 intothe nut 567 at the installation location 465 with enough torque 669 tocause the preset load 30 on the tabs 22 to be exceeded. This may causethe tabs 22 to lose their elasticity and to deform away from the threads141 of the fastener 139. As a result, the tabs 22 may no longer securethe clip 10 in place relative to the fastener 139 due to theirdeformation thereby releasing the clip 10 from the device 134 and itsattached tube 137. FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of one embodiment of theclip 10 of FIG. 11 with the fastener 139 removed from the aperture 14 toshow what the deformed tabs 22 may look like after the fastener 139 wasscrewed into the nut 567 with enough torque to cause the preset load 30on the tabs 22 to be exceeded thereby deforming the tabs 22.

In step 268, at the installation location 465, the fastener 139 may beunscrewed from the nut 567 and the fastener 139 may be removed from thedevice apertures 136 and the retention clip aperture 14 withoutinterference from the deformed tabs 22. FIG. 13 shows a perspective viewof one embodiment of step 268 being implemented to unscrew the fastener139 of FIG. 11 from the nut 567 at the installation location 465 inorder to remove the fastener 139 from the device apertures 136 and theretention clip aperture 14 without interference from the deformed tabs22. In other embodiments, the size, orientation, configuration,direction, angle, and/or type of the tabs 22 of the clip 10 may bevaried in order to attach, transport, install, and/or release the clip10 to and/or from varying types and sizes of fasteners 138, devices 134,tubes 136, hardware 132, aircraft and/or non-aircraft parts 465A, and/orother types of parts.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may reduce and/or eliminateone or more problems of one or more of the prior art apparatus and/ormethods by providing a retention clip and/or method of install which maybe adapted to: captivate device hardware, including bolts, washers,spacers, close/secure parts, tubing, and/or other types of parts, duringtransport and install thereby minimizing the relative movement of tubesand/or subassembly components; self-align fasteners of the device; avoidrotation relative to the device; efficiently close the device and stayin place during transport with little necessary labor and/or cost; yieldupon install without impacting the fit, form, or function of the system;be easily removed; accommodate varying sized and configuration devices;be constructed of a material that is compatible with the environment;and/or provide one or more other types of benefits.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the disclosure and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure asset forth in the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A method comprising: providing hardware having apertures on opposing end portions of the hardware; providing a retention clip comprising a support surface having an aperture extending through the support surface, two anti-rotation surfaces extending non-parallel from each side of the support surface, and at least one angled tab extending non-parallel from an opposite side of the support surface towards a center of the aperture of the retention clip; disposing the hardware between the two anti-rotation surfaces of the retention clip; extending a fastener through the apertures of the hardware and through the aperture of the retention clip into a nut securing the hardware to the retention clip with the at least one angled tab disposed against the fastener; detaching the fastener from the nut; and removing the fastener from the nut and the apertures of the hardware and the aperture of the retention clip to allow the hardware to move out of and into the retention clip.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the two anti-rotation surfaces are disposed perpendicular to the support surface.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the two anti-rotation surfaces extend perpendicularly from a bottom portion of the support surface.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the two anti-rotation surfaces form a U-shape in combination with the support surface.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the two anti-rotation surfaces comprise identical lengths as sides of a bottom portion of the support surface from which the two anti-rotation surfaces extend.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the hardware comprises a clamp.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein an imaginary plane extends parallel to both anti-rotation surfaces half-way in-between both anti-rotation surfaces, and two angled tabs each extend entirely from separate respective portions of the support surface which are disposed on opposite sides of the imaginary plane.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching the fastener to a tool base.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising attaching the fastener to a spacer.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein two angled tabs extend non-parallel from the top portion of the support surface towards the center of the aperture of the retention clip.
 11. A method comprising: providing hardware having apertures on opposing end portions of the hardware; providing a retention clip comprising a support surface having an aperture extending through the support surface, two anti-rotation surfaces extending non-parallel from each side of the support surface, and at least one angled tab extending non-parallel from an opposite side of the support surface into the aperture, wherein a portion of the at least one angled tab is disposed directly below the aperture, and at least one angled tab is elastic below a preset load placed on the at least one angled tab; disposing the hardware between the two anti-rotation surfaces of the retention clip; extending a fastener through the apertures of the hardware and through the aperture of the retention clip into a nut securing the hardware to the retention clip with the at least one angled tab disposed against the fastener; closing the opposing end portions of the hardware against one another by moving the fastener along the apertures of the hardware and along the aperture of the retention clip during which threads of the fastener move axially against the at least one angled tab causing the at least one angled tab to elastically snap back and forth, while the at least one angled tab is below the preset load, between and over the axially moving threads; securing the at least one angled tab of the clip fixedly against the threads of the fastener with the at least one angled tab below the preset load in order to keep the end portions of the hardware closed.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: detaching the fastener from the nut; and removing the fastener from the nut and the aperture to allow the hardware to move out of and into the retention clip.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the support surface surrounds an entire perimeter of the aperture.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the closing and the securing steps further comprises at least one of a washer and a spacer being secured between the support surface and the head of the fastener.
 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of closing the hardware against a tube.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein after securing the tabs of the clip fixedly against the threads of the fastener with the elastic tabs below the preset load in order to keep the portions of the hardware closed, further comprising transporting the closed hardware to an installation location with the elastic tabs of the secured clip fixedly against the threads of the fastener with the tabs below the preset load in order to keep the portions of the hardware closed during transport.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of, at the installation location, screwing the fastener into the nut with enough torque to cause the preset load on the tabs to be exceeded, the tabs to deform, the tabs to lose their elasticity, and the tabs to no longer secure the retention clip in place relative to the fastener.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, at the installation location, unscrewing the fastener from the nut and removing the fastener from the apertures of the hardware and the aperture of the retention clip without interference from the deformed tabs.
 19. The method of claim 11, wherein the method is used to transport and install aircraft parts.
 20. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one angled tab extends towards a center of the aperture of the retention clip. 